Country Life: Ancient saddlery guild attracts young Waikato women from around the world

Sophia Stratford’s quest to make a better saddle for her beloved horse took her abroad to the UK, where she is studying saddlery at Capel Manor College in England.
Photograph: Provided

Riding a “funny shaped” horse as a teenager took a young Kiwi woman halfway around the world to learn the ancient art of saddlery.

Twenty-year-old Sophia Stratford is heading into her second year on a path steeped in history after raising money, including selling her beloved horse.

The idea to study saddle making came to him during the hours he spent training and caring for Digger.

“I found it really difficult to find a saddle for him and get him fitted, and it was a saddle that would suit both of us, and I thought it would be a lot easier if I could do it myself.”

But then aged 14, he thought learning to saddle was an “unrealistic” dream, given the scarcity of courses in New Zealand and the cost of studying abroad.

Then, encouraged by his parents to look into it, he discovered a diploma in the trade, overseen by the City and Guilds Institute of London and the big-name Worshipful Company of Cordswainers, dating back to 1272.

Sophia’s classes are at Capel Manor College in London, where she spends hours surrounded by leather, cutting and hand-stitching, and learning how to make bridle parts and other metal fittings needed in the equestrian world.

“It’s really expensive. It’s really hard. And then I’m so far away from all my friends and family and I had to sell my horse to come here, which was really hard to accept.”

He said it was quite special to learn such a traditional craft as part of a centuries-old training plan. Country Life.

“It can be quite surreal sometimes because, you know, it’s so old.

“The Saddlers’ Hall for example, it’s all very flashy and nothing like the horse world we’re used to in New Zealand.”

Sophia explained that horses come in many shapes and sizes, with only two weight-bearing muscles on their backs. Having the right saddle is important.

“You get these pressure points that get worse with the weight of the rider, and it hurts. Yes, it’s totally an animal welfare issue.”

Sophia Stratford (fifth from left) already has several awards under her belt after her first year of training as a saddler
Photograph: Provided

With a slew of awards under her belt after her first year, including Best Overall Student from the Worshipful Company of Loriners, Sophia feels “reasonably confident” about calling herself a saddler.

“Not very good, but you know, I can make saddles. I’ve made bridles, I’ve made saddles, I’ve made harnesses.”

He plans to return home for the four years of experience required to become fully qualified.

Well, now how about being able to make that saddle for his beloved horse?

“Probably not as pretty as I’d like, but is it functional? Yeah, I guess so!”

Some of the leather goods prepared by saddlery students
Photograph: Provided

Learn more:

• Learn more about the Venerable Society of Loriners Here